Apparatus for cutting sugar-cane.



PATENTBD DEC. 15, 1903.

J HAN. WILSON. V APPARATUS FOR CUTTING SUGAR CANE.

APPLIOAT ION FILED MAR. 30, 1903.

4 SHEETS-SHEET}.

11o MODEL.

Yaw, cu. PHOTC'LHHO.WASHINGTUN.

No. 747,027. PATENTEDDEO. 15, 190 3. J. H. N. WILSON. APPARATUS FORCUTTING SUGAR CANE. APPLICATION FILED MAR. so, 1903. no MODEL. 4SHEETS-SHEET 2 tor.

lnyn

By 7 W THE mums PETERS cc mom-umu. wuuwm'w o c.

Witnesses.

No. 747,027. A PATENTED DEG. 16.1903. J. H. N. WILSON. APPARATUS FORCUTTING SUGAR CANE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 30, 1903.

N0 MODEL. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

3 a 2 4 2 m 4 w 7/ i 1/14, V7 1? 1 SHEETSSHEET 4.

i .lilr .v.\ 7\

No. 747,027. v PATENTED DEC. 15, 1903.

J. H. N. WILSON. APPARATUS FOR CUTTING SUGAR CANE.

APPLIUATION FILED MAR. 30, 1903. N0 MODEL.

& s

nnnnhn r\ nnnqn l s 8 s s s l Witnesses. Q

.W 9 Ed 3.; cancer.

nrrn Fratrns \Patented December 15, 1903.

ntnnr Prion.

JOHN H. N. WILSON, OF HONOLULU, TERRITORY OF HAWAII.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 747,027, dated December15, 1.903.

Application filed March 30; 1903.

To (tZZ whom itmtty concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN H. N. WILSON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Honolulu,in the Territory of Hawaii, have invented a certainnew and usefulImproved Apparatus for Cutting Sugar-Cane or the Like, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved apparatus for cutting sugar-cane,which has a plurality of cutting devices operatively arranged betweentwo cars or vehicles separated a certain distanceand adapted to traversea field; and the object of the invention is to cut sugar-cane or othervegetation in a rapid, efficient, and economical manner.

The invention also relates to certain details of construction, all ofwhich will be fully and clearly hereinafter described andclaimed,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which-Figure 1 is an end elevation of the improved apparatus. Fig. 2 is a sideelevation of one of the cars. Fig. is a top plan View of one of thecars. Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary side view illustrating theropetightening device. Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary edge viewillustrating'the ropetightening device. Fig. 6 is an enlargedfragmentary view showing the supportingrope, the main air-conductingtube, one of the air-tubes, and the three-pulley device and thepulley-weight in their proper rela tion. Fig. 7 is an enlarged detachedview of the three-pulley device. Fig. 8 is an enlarged detached view ofthe pulley-weight. Fig. 9 is an end elevation of a car having a modifiedform of frame or'support for the cable and air-supplytube. Fig. 10 is aside elevation of the frame shown in Fig. 9, also showing a fragment ofthe car. Fig. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the lower end of oneof the vertical beams. Fig. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary sectionthrough the beam and spud, showing the rack and pinion. Fig. 13 is anenlarged inside view of the upper end of the spud, showing the rack-bar.

In referring to the drawings in detail like numerals designate likeparts.

The apparatus consists of two cars which are mounted upon railsseparated from and extending substantially parallel with each other, asupporting rope or'cable extending securely bolted together.

Serial No. 150,165. (No model.)

compressor on the car or cars.

The rails 1 are of any suitable form and are laid across the field uponwhich the sugar cane or other vegetation to be cut is located onsuitable ties 2 or other supporting means. The pairs of rails areseparated sufficiently to leave between them quite a tract of the fieldand extend substantially parallel with each other, as shown in Fig. 1.

The cars 3 are preferably of the kind known as flat-cars and areprovided with the usual trucks 4, wheels 5,-and platform 6, upon whichthe apparatus is mounted. A plurality of beams 7 are fastenedtransversely to the platform 6 at about the middle thereof, and uprightfront frame members 8 and diagonallyextending rear frame members 9 aresupported upon the beams 7, the members 8 and 9 being fastened at theirlower ends to longitudinal frame members 10 and 11 and at their upperends to longitudinally-extending beams 12 and transverse beams 13, thewhole being (See Figs. 1 and 2.) Transverse beams 14 extendbetween theframe members 8 and 9 at about the middle thereof, and a platform 15 issupported upon the beams 14. The frame is additionally braced bylongitudinally-extending beams 16, mounted upon the platform 15. Twotransversely-extending beams 17 are supported upon the longitudinalbeams 12 and are securely fastenedin place by brackets bolted to thebeams 12 and 17. Asheave 18is mounted upon a short shaft 19, which isjournaled in bearings 20, fastened to the top of the beams 17, and arope or cable 21 passes over the sheave 18 and has one end coiled orWound upon a spool or Windlass 22, mounted upon a shaft 23. The oppositeend of the cable 21 crosses the field and passes over a similar sheave18, mounted upon the frame of the second car, being fastened in placesubstantially as above described. The shaft 23 is journaled in bearings24, fastened to the rear of the frame members 9, and carries a spurgear-wheel 25 upon one end. A shaft 26 is journaled in bearings 27,fastened to the frame members 9 above the bearings 24, and

. has a pinion 28 mounted on one end, which meshes with the gear-wheelon the shaft 23. The shaft 26 is provided with a crank or handle 29, bymeans of which it is rotated, and a ratchet-wheel 30 is mounted on theshaft 26. A pawl 31 is supported on the side of one of the frame members9 and engages with the teeth on the ratchet-Wheel 30, thereby preventingthe rotation of the shaft 26 in one direction. The object of theWindlass is to take up any slack in the supporting-cable by windingsufficient of the cable thereon to regulate its length to correspond tothe distance between the cars.

The apparatus for supplyingthe compressed air to operate the cuttingdevices comprises an air-pump 32, which is connected to an oil orgasolene engine 33 by a belt 34, passing around pulleys 35 and 36,mounted on the shafts of the pump 32 and engine 33. The compressed airis conducted from the airpump 32 to an air-tank 37 by a pipe 38, and aflexible air hose or tube 39 has one end connected to the tank 37 and isthen coiled upon the platform 15. A series of pulleys 'or sheaves 40 aresupported upon the cable 21, each of which is provided with side plates41, between which the pulley 40 is pivoted, and a pulley or sheave 42for supporting the air-supply tube 39 is mounted between the plates 41and below each of the sheaves 40. The air-supply tube 39 passes over apulley 43, supported from brackets 44, fastened to one of thelongitudinal beams 12, and extends across the field to the other car,being supportedupon the pulleys or sheaves 42. I term the pulleys 40 and42, together with their supporting-plates 41, the double-pulley devices.A number of the side plates 41 are made longer and support a third orlower sheave 45, over which the air-tubes 46, supplying air to each ofthe cutting devices 47, pass. Each of the tubes 46 has one end connectedto the main air-supply tube 39 by a coupling 48, and its opposite end isconnected to one of the cutting devices 47. A pulley or sheave 49,provided with a balancingweight 50, is supported on the tube or hose 46,between the coupling 48 and sheave 45, and serves to take up any slackin the tube 46 which may be caused by the unevenness of the field.

For supplying the engine 33 with oil or gasolene each of the cars 3 isprovided with'a gasolene or oil tank 51, which is connected to theengine 33 by a line of pipe 52, (see Fig. 3,) and a water-tank 53 isalso connected to the engine 33 by a pipe 54 to supply water for coolingthe engine. The main air-tube 39 is provided with a valve 55, near eachtank 37, for regulating the air-supply.

The preferred form of cutting device employed is shown and described inmy Patent No. 706,481, granted August 5, 1902, to which winding aportion of the cable from the windlass 22 and uncoiling a portion of theair-tube 39 from the platform 15, or the slack may be taken up bywinding the cable upon the windlass 22 and coiling the tube 39 upon theplatform 15.

Figs. 9 to 13, inclusive, show a modified form of frame for supportingthe cable 21, and air-supply tube 39, which is adapted to be used whenthe cable 21 crosses a large tract of field, and is so constructed as torelieve the car from any strain from the weight of the cable 21 andair-supply tube 39.

In the construction shown in the drawings a series of beams 56,preferably four in number, are mounted upon the platform 6 of the car 3and extend upwardly and inwardly, the upper ends being fastened toblocks 57 and 58. Transversely-extending beams 59 are mounted upon theplatform 6 of the car, and the lower ends of the beams 56 are fastenedto the ends of the beams 59. The frame is additionally strengthened bylongitudinallyextending beams 60, which are fastened to the beams 56 and59.

A spud or pile 61 is adjustably fastened to the lower extremity of eachof the beams 56 by metal straps or guide-plates 62, which are rigidlysecured to the beam 56. Each of the spuds or piles 61 has its lower endpointed, asshown in Figs. 9 and 10, and is provided on its inner facewith a rack-bar 63, seated in a depression 64, and a pinion 65, mountedupon a shaft 66, is seated in an opening 67 in the beam 56 and mesheswith the teeth of the rack-bar 63, by which the spud or pile 61 may beraised or lowered. The shaft 66 is provided with an operating-handle 68and ratchet 69. A pawl 70, fastened to the beam 56, engages with theteeth on the ratchet 69 and prevents the backward rotation of the shaft66. Longitudinal and transverse beams 71 and 72 are fastened to thebeams 56 at about the middle thereof and support a platform 73, uponwhich the air-supply tube 39 may be coiled. Vertically-extending beams74 are fastened to the beams and 71 and serve to support the drum 22.When the car has been moved to the desired position, the spuds or piles61 are forced into the ground by means of the pinion and rack-bar 63,thus relieving the car of any strain due to the weight or winding up ofthe cable 21 and air-supply tube 39.

I claim as my invention 1. In an apparatus of the class described, aplurality of cars, a cable extending between the cars, and a pluralityof cutting devices having support from the cable.

2. In an apparatus of the class described,

a plurality of cars, a cable extending between the cars, a plurality ofcutting devices having support from the cable and means for operatingthe cutting devices.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, a plurality of cars, a cableextending between the cars, a plurality of cutting devices havingsupport from the cable and pneumatic means for operating the cuttingdevices.

4. In an apparatus of the class described, a plurality of cars, a cableextending between the cars, an air'conducting tube supported by thecable and pneumatically-operated cutting devices supported from theair-conducting tube.

5. In an apparatus of the class described, a plurality of cars, a cableextending between the cars, a compressed-air receptacle on at least oneof the cars, an air-conducting tube extending from said receptacle and aplurality of cutting devices having support from the cable and providedwith tubes connected to the air-conducting tube.

6. In an apparatus of the class described, a plurality of cars, a cableextending between the cars, aircompressing means by at least one of thecars, a main tube extending from said means, a plurality of cuttingdevices having support from the cable and a supplementary tubeconnecting each cutting device to the main tube, substantially as setforth.

7. In an apparatus of the class described, a plurality of cars, a frameon each car, a cable extending between the cars, a Windlass on eachframe to which the cable is connected, an air-compressing means carriedby at least one of the cars, a tube extending from said means, pulleysfor supporting said tube from the cable, a plurality of cutting devicesand a tube connecting each cutting device to the first-mentioned tube,substantially as set forth.

8. In an apparatus of the class described, a plurality of cars, a cableextending between the cars, a plurality of cutting devices and anair-conducting tube having support from the cable and operativeconnection with the cutting devices.

9. In an apparatus of the class described, a plurality of cars, a cableextending between the cars, air-compressing means carried by at leastone of the cars, a main tube extending from said means, a plurality ofcutting devices having support from the cable, a supplementary tubeconnecting each cutting device to the main tube and means for taking upthe slack in said supplementary tubes, substantially'as set forth.

10. In an apparatus of the class described, a plurality of cars, a cableextending between the cars, air-compressing means carried by at leastone of the cars, a main tube extending from said means, a plurality ofcutting devices having support from the cable, a supplernentary tubeconnecting each cutting device to the main tube and a weighted pulleyfor taking up the slack in said supplementary tubes, substantially asset forth.

11. In an apparatus of the class described, a plurality of cars, a cableextending between the cars, a series of double pulleys on said cable, anair-conducting tube supported from the cable by the pulleys andpneumaticallyoperated cutting devices supported from the air-cond uctingtube.

12. In an apparatus of the class described, a plurality of cars, a cableextending between the cars, a plurality of cutting devices havingsupport from the cable and mechanism for regulating the length of thecable, substantially as set forth.

13. In an apparatus of the class described, a plurality of cars, a cableextending between the cars, a plurality of cutting devices havingsupport from the cable, and a Windlass on one of the cars to which oneend of the cable is secured, substantially as set forth.

14. In an apparatus of the class described, a plurality of cars, a frameon each of said cars, a Windlass having support by one of said frames, acable extending between the cars and connecting at one end to thewindlass, and a plurality of cutting devices having support from thecable, substantially as set forth.

JOHN H. N. WILSON.

Witnesses:

L. M. SANGSTER, GEO. A. 'NEUBAUER.

